Food for Thought: Community Perspectives on Access to Produce in the Mississippi Delta Region

Author

• McKenzie S. Cox, University of MississippiFollow

Date of Award

Spring 5-9-2026

Document Type

Undergraduate Thesis

Department

Public Policy Leadership

First Advisor

Joseph Holland

Second Advisor

Mark Dolan

Third Advisor

Rebecca Oliver

Relational Format

Dissertation/Thesis

Abstract

Historically, MS has struggled to provide access to nutritious food for its residents. Approximately 15.3% of households in the state were classified as food insecure between 2018 and 2020, which is significantly higher than the national food insecurity rate of 10.7% for the same year (USDA Economic Research Service, 2023). According to the National Park Service (2022), between 55% and 60% of all land area in the MS Delta region is used for agricultural purposes. However, there appears to be a missing link in the chain connecting individuals and local communities to these crops.

This qualitative study focuses on food insecurity through lived experiences regarding produce access in three Mississippi counties: Coahoma, Quitman, and Bolivar. Through interviews with farmers, food establishments, and policy specialists, the researcher aims to provide insights and unearth themes related to produce access that combine these three key perspectives. Ultimately, policy implications will be identified and analyzed using the framework of community-engaged learning. The work includes a history of the Delta and its agricultural background, an overview of current impactful food policy, interview results from target groups, response analysis, and policy alternatives and recommendations.

Identified policy recommendations include expanding the Food is Medicine program, increasing support for specialty crops, and further developing local cultural heritage programs.

Recommended Citation

Cox, McKenzie S., "Food for Thought: Community Perspectives on Access to Produce in the Mississippi Delta Region" (2026). Honors Theses. 3617.
https://egrove.olemiss.edu/hon_thesis/3617

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.